SURPRISE, Ariz. — A Surprise family is mourning the death of their loved one after he died in an unexplained accident at work.
Family members said 30-year-old Drew Damon Cook was just 10 days away from his 31st birthday when he died.
VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL: Técnico de aire acondicionado del valle muere haciendo su trabajo, le sobreviven su prometida y 3 hijos
Jana Bartlett, Cook's future mother-in-law, said on Tuesday her son who worked with Cook at Cool Blew A/C, rushed to tell her Cook had been in an accident.
"My husband escorted [Brooke, his fiancee] to the hospital, and I stayed here with their small children," Bartlett recalled, "By the time she was able to get to the hospital, it was he was gone."
Brooke Bartlett had known Cook since she was 15 and told 12News it was one of the worst days of her life.
"I could have never pictured when they put me in that consult room and they told me that he was gone," Brooke Bartlett said. "I had an out-of-body experience, just I didn't know what to do. I screamed. Just let out the worst scream you could ever imagine, and that was the only thing I could do."
Brooke Bartlett said the family still does not know how Cook died but said he was working in the attic of a home when the homeowner saw him on the ground after hearing a loud thud.
"We still don't know at this point if it was something to do with electricity, if he did, in fact, have heat stroke. We just don't know," Jana Bartlett said.
Bartlett said Cook would do anything to provide for his family, even working up to four jobs so his fiancee could stay home to raise their three children who considered him their hero.
"Our oldest, I think, is taking it the hardest is 10, and he is just he has the most memories, and I he's taking it really hard," Brooke Bartlett said. " [My 2-year-old] has been saying she missed her daddy all day, and it kills me, because I don't know how to explain that we're not going to see him right now."
The family described Cook as an outdoor enthusiast and a kind soul.
"He was very funny, very give you the shirt off of his back. I mean, he would have literally laid down his life for anybody that he cared about," Jana Bartlett said.
"He was everything to [me] since I was 15 years old, and I don't know how I'm gonna deal with that," Brooke Bartlett said.
The family said they are waiting for results from the medical examiner to find out how Drew died, they've also set up a GoFundMe to help Brooke and her three children through their loss.
>> Download the 12News app for the latest local breaking news straight to your phone.
Watch 12News+ for free
You can now watch 12News content anytime, anywhere thanks to the 12News+ app!
The free 12News+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like "Today in AZ" and "12 News" and our daily lifestyle program, "Arizona Midday"—on Roku and Amazon Fire TV.
12News+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona.
Users can also watch on-demand videos of top stories, local politics, I-Team investigations, Arizona-specific features and vintage videos from the 12News archives.
Roku: Add the channel from the Roku store or by searching for "12 News KPNX."
Amazon Fire TV: Search for "12 News KPNX" to find the free 12News+ app to add to your account, or have the 12News+ app delivered directly to your Amazon Fire TV through Amazon.com or the Amazon app.
Up to Speed
Catch up on the latest news and stories on the 12News YouTube channel. Subscribe today.